President Trump Attends Staffer's Wedding [AFP=Yonhap News]

Amid speculation that a US military operation against Iran is imminent, US President Donald Trump said on the 1st (local time), "I hope we reach an agreement with Iran."

When asked by reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, about his thoughts on the Iranian Supreme Leader's remarks, President Trump said, "What reason would he have not to say that? He has no choice but to say it," and made the above statement.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, who had described the anti-government protests in his country as a coup, reiterated a warning message to the US, which had hinted at military intervention following the protests.

Khamenei said, regarding the US increasing pressure by deploying major military assets such as an aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East and demanding a resumption of nuclear negotiations, "The Iranian people have no reason to fear these things," adding, "If the US starts a war, they should know that this time it will be a regional war."

President Trump said, "We have deployed the largest and most powerful ships in the world there," and added, "If we don't reach an agreement, we will find out whether his words were right or not."

This statement is interpreted as prioritizing dialogue with Iran while not ruling out the possibility of military action.

Regarding Cuba, President Trump stated, "We are in communication with Cuba's top officials and observing the situation," adding, "I believe we will be able to reach an agreement with Cuba."

However, he did not provide specific details about the nature of the agreement.

President Trump has recently increased pressure on Cuba by declaring a national emergency, citing Cuba's threats to US national security, and signing an executive order to impose tariffs on countries trading oil with Cuba.

Meanwhile, President Trump commented on the Democratic Party's victory in a special election for the House of Representatives in Texas the previous day, stating, "I was not involved in that. I wasn't on the ballot."

In the special election for the 18th Congressional District of Texas held the previous day, Democratic candidate Chrishen Menefee won. This district is considered a stronghold of Democratic support.

With Menefee's inauguration, the seat difference between the Republican and Democratic parties will narrow from five seats to four, with 218 seats for Republicans and 214 seats for Democrats.

President Trump visited Mar-a-Lago on this day to attend the wedding of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino and Erin Elmore, Director of Diplomatic Art at the State Department.